The UI Railroad Transmission Line Upgrade Project
Learn more about the project.
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We appreciate the Connecticut Siting Council’s decision to delay their decision on the Fairfield to Congress Project for procedural reasons, following our motion earlier this week raising the issue that the Council currently has an insufficient number of members with an ecological background that is required by statute. We are committed to working with the Council to implement the design plan they vote on in the coming weeks, following the Governor’s nomination of new Council members. Check out the Document Library to learn more.
UI Railroad Transmission Lines Upgrade Project
About the Overall Railroad Transmission Line Rebuild Project
The UI Railroad Transmission Line Upgrade Project rebuilds UI’s transmission lines along the 25 miles of the Metro North Railroad(MNR) corridor between Fairfield and West Haven. This includes installation of approximately 500 new foundation supported galvanized transmission poles, upgrading of conductor size and installing sectionalizing switches at nearby substations. This project will enhance the structural integrity and reliability of the high voltage transmission lines along the MNR corridor allowing UI to continue to provide safe, reliable electric service to our customers for years to come.
Project Purpose and Need
Benefits to region and our customers
The upgrades will improve the reliability and resiliency of the transmission system, ensuring that the safe and reliable transmission of power is maintained throughout Fairfield and New Haven County in accordance with Federal reliability standards.
Environmental Railroad Projects
Project Map
Project Scope
- Staking, vegetation clearing, installation and removal of access roads and work pads
- Installation of drilled foundations supporting monopoles and conductors
- Installation of new sectionalizing switches at substations to increase reliability and operational flexibility
- Removal of bonnet structures (top of poles which hold the power lines) on MNR Catenaries (cables which hold the lines)
- Site Restoration
Timing
Construction start of the first phase: Dec. 2017
Estimated in-service date of final phase: 2028 Q3
Construction Scope
115kV Transmission Line Upgrade
- Completed, in service 12/24/2018
Crossing Replacement
- Completed, in service 6/7/2018
Stratford 115-kV Transmission Line Upgrade Project consisting of the removal and relocation of northern and southern sections of existing 115-kilovolt (kV) transmission line structures from Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) catenary structures within the Metro-North Railroad corridor to new 115-kV transmission line structures to be located within the existing ConnDOT right of way and upgrade of 115-kV conductors extending approximately 1.9 miles from UI’s Baird Substation to just west of the Housatonic River in Stratford, Connecticut, and related substation improvements
- In construction: Nov 2019 to Aug 2021
- Energized: February 2021
Rebuild 9.5 miles from Milvon Substation (Milford, CT) to West River Substation (New Haven, CT).
Relocate the transmission lines off the existing CT DOT railroad catenary bonnets and install on independent monopoles with new insulators, hardware and conductor on new monopole structures in the railroad corridor.
- Engineering August 2020 – Q3 2022
- Construction Start Q4 2023
- In-service Q4 2028
Additional Links and Documents
- Fact Sheet
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Construction Process
- Milvon to West River Video
- Interactive Map of Project route
- Contact us
- Permitting info
- Project Overview & Engineering
- Environmental and Community
- Video
More information is available in the Document Library
Construction Process
UI is committed to working cooperatively with our customers, neighbors, community leaders and regulators as we improve reliability while minimizing disruption to the environment and community. We have a dedicated team of public outreach liaisons who will be involved throughout the duration of the project to answer any questions you may have.
Below are the stages of the project construction process that you may see in your community.
1) Laying matting and building access roads for construction vehicles while protecting the area
2) Tree clearing – trimming "danger trees" that may cause service interruption
3) Drilling foundations which will support the new galvanized steel poles
4) Setting the bolt cage for the foundation structure
5) Pouring concrete for the foundations
6) Final concrete cap for the steel monopoles
7) Setting the poles into the foundation
8) Stringing the wire (conductor) onto the poles
9) Restoration - grading, seeding & mulch. Access roads removed.
Updated May 2020
Railroad Transmission Line Upgrade Video
Permitting
UI is designing the Project to avoid and minimize negative impacts to the community and the environment. Early Project planning efforts included the completion of a set of resource assessments to clarify important planning considerations such as water resources; soil characteristics; cultural resources; and sensitive plant and animal species. Active regulatory coordination and reviews preceded numerous permitting efforts and are ongoing through the construction phase of the Project. UI has secured the necessary authorizations reviews and permits from agencies across federal, state and local administration agencies. Consultations and permits have been pursued from the following agencies for the Project:
Federal
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
State of Connecticut
- Connecticut Siting Council (CSC)
- Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (CTDEEP)
- Connecticut State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)
Local and Regional
- Towns of Fairfield, Bridgeport, Stratford, Milford, Orange, West Haven & New Haven
Document Library
Fairfield to Congress Substation, Bridgeport
Milvon to West River 115 kV Transmission Line Rebuild Project
| Title | Date |
|---|---|
| Hearing Mailing | 02/25/2022 |
| Open House Postcard | 02/25/2022 |
| Right of Way Cross Sections | 02/22/2022 |
| Transcript: Milvon to West River Transmission Open House Video | 01/18/2022 |
| Transcript: Milvon to West River Transmission Line Upgrade Project Video | 01/18/2022 |
| CT DEEP Natural Diversity Database Species Protection Best Management Practices | 12/23/2021 |
| FAQ Sheet - Milvon to West River | 12/20/2021 |
| Visual Simulations as shown in the Municipal Consultation filing on 11/28/2021 | 11/28/2021 |
| 400-Scale MCF Project Mapping | 10/14/2021 |
| Phase 4 - Milvon to West River Fact Sheet | 09/04/2020 |
General Information
| Title | Date |
|---|---|
| Typical Structure Foundation Details | 12/23/2021 |
| Connecticut Siting Council Process | 12/23/2021 |
| Design with Community in Mind | 11/22/2021 |
| Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMF) | 11/22/2021 |
| Permitting: Environmental and Regulatory | 11/22/2021 |
| Comparison of Underground and Overhead Power Lines | 11/22/2021 |
| Phase 3 - HRX to Baird Fact Sheet | 03/17/2021 |
| Phase 3 - Raymark/Contract Plating Info sheet | 05/01/2020 |
How the Electric Delivery System Works
The electric grid consists of high-voltage transmission lines and low-voltage distribution lines that transport electricity from power generation plants to community areas that need electricity.
Project/Construction Updates
Fairfield to Congress Substation, Bridgeport
United Illuminating is reviewing the Connecticut Superior Court's April 23rd decision regarding the Fairfield to Congress project. Our commitment to delivering safe and reliable service to our customers remains.
- Opinion: CT businesses can’t afford Fairfield County half-billion-dollar aesthetic upgrade
- Opinion: Should all of Connecticut pay $500 million for special treatment in Fairfield and Bridgeport?
- 3rd-Party Assessment: Undergrounding UI Transmission Line Would Increase Costs Borne by Ratepayers to $838 Million
Milvon to West River
Project update – Completed the Connecticut Siting Council approval process, Docket No 508 (ct.gov). View the full application and the Development and Management Plan (D&M Plan) here.
Construction Update - Maintaining the east to west trajectory we will be working in West Haven and Milford with efforts focusing on vegetation removal, matting, temporary and permanent road construction, drilling and pouring foundations, installing structures, and stringing conductor. We will be working at the Milford Train Station(north side) until the end of the summer(and returning in 2026). Parking and access may be impacted at times.
Get in touch
T: 1-888-848-3697
E: [email protected]